Don’t Get Burned: Tips to Avoid an Overheated Phone

If overheating becomes a frequent problem — and the phone isn’t exposed to the other situations mentioned in this gallery  — a faulty or failing battery might be the cause.

First, see what the phone is telling you: on the iPhone, go to Settings > Battery and check Battery Health. On Android go to Settings > Battery > Battery Diagnostics (Pixel) or Settings > Battery and device care (Samsung). If the functionality is degraded, it might be time to schedule a battery replacement.

And if the phone is bulging, cracked or shows other signs of a swollen battery, turn it off and contact the company’s support programs immediately. That’s a less likely circumstance, but with lithium-ion batteries, you don’t want to mess around with safety.